Warden Message -May 12, 2006 

The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has received reports that there are demonstrations in the main square in Balykchy City today, May 12, 2006 in connection with the recent assassination of organized crime figure Ryspek Akmatbaev.  Akmatbaev supporters have also expressed their intent to block the road from Karakol to Bishkek, which is the main road between Bishkek and the Issyk Kul lake region.  The Embassy urges that Americans exercise caution in traveling to this region of Kyrgyzstan over the coming days and continue to stay away from demonstrations and crowds.

We also wish to remind American Citizens that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  American Citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations.

U.S. citizens are urged to register and update their contact information through the State Department's travel registration website at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/.  The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek is located at 171 Prospect Mira, 720016 Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.  The phone number is 996-312-551-241, fax: 996-312-551-264, and website: http://bishkek.usembassy.gov.

Updated information on travel and security in the Kyrgyz Republic may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444.  U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State's Consular Information Sheet, the Public Announcement for the Kyrgyz Republic at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1163.html and the Public Announcement for Central Asia at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_2491.html, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement http://travel.state.gov/wwc1.html, and the travel publication "A Safe Trip Abroad" at http://travel.state.gov/asafetripabroad.html .